FARMERS' UNION SOCIAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 May 1913, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION SOCIAL.

SPEECH BY HON. W. FRASER

(By Our Special Reporter.)

The Pahiatua Central branch of the Farmers' Union held one of the most successful social gatherings since its inception on Wednesday evening, when quite 400 people were present. During the evening, the Hon, W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, and Br Newman, M.P., and Messrs Mabin (chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce) made snort addresses.

The Minister said the object of hi 3 visit to the district Was to get in( touch with the people, and find out the Requirements, of the district, and, information fhich would assist him in administering the Department, which he controlled. He hoped he would not be judged by what was sometimes said of him in the papers. He had been accused of being a pessimist, because he told the people the truth, and did not. incur liabilities which he would not be in a position to -neet. In his capacity as Minister, foe was the trustee of the people, and it was hie duty to see that the expenditure authorised would be met by tie; money available. Since coming into dffice a year ago, his Department had expended £470.000 on roads and bridges and £684,000 on railways, while altogether nearly £2,000,000 had been spent in developing the country., which could not be considered a bad year's work. His colleagues and himself had to be careful how they spent the money of the country, and he hoped they would continue to be careful. It would be his continuous endeavour to further the interests of every district in Nenv Zealand.

T)r Newman, M.P., said ho had lor> it held the opinion that Wellington did not take sufficient interest in the back country of the province, and he bad gone out on this tour through the district to gain a better idea of its requirements, He hoped that Wellington and the country districts would join in furthering the developing of the baok country. He intended to do his utmost in urging the opening up of communication in the hinterland.

Mr Mabin said he Was present as the representative of the commercial interests of Wellington, which, he considered, were greatly interested in the development of the outlying districts. It should be the object of everyone concerned in the advancement of the province to promote the opening up of the back country, «nd get the produce of the land to the best market, which, as far as this district was concerned, was Wellington.